Beacon Hill Roll Call

Sunday

Beacon Hill Roll Call records local representatives’ votes on roll calls from the week of March 11-15. There were no roll calls in the Senate last week.

BAN CONVERSION THERAPY FOR ANYONE UNDER 18 (H 150)

House 149-9 and then again 148-8, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that would prohibit psychiatrists, psychologists and other health care providers from attempting to change the sexual orientation, gender identity or gender expression of anyone under 18. Conversion therapy exposes the person to a stimulus while simultaneously subjecting him or her to some form of discomfort. The therapy is primarily used to try to convert gays and lesbians to be straight.

Both branches approved a similar bill last year but it never made it to Gov. Charlie Baker’s desk.

Mental health experts and LGBTQ groups charge that the practice is scientifically unproven and unsound and can trigger depression, anxiety and suicidal thoughts in these youngsters.

There was an unusual second roll call vote on the bill requested by Rep. Susannah Whipps (I-Athol) who said she was recorded incorrectly on the first vote.

“On the first vote … I believed I voted ‘yes,’ ” said Whipps. “I was surprised when a colleague showed me the printout and I was listed as a ‘no.’ I voted in favor of this ban last session and have been a co-sponsor and advocate for this bill this session. I take a great deal of pride in my support of the LGBTQ community.”

She said she was very appreciative that the speaker and her colleagues were willing to accept her motion to reconsider and allow her vote to be corrected on the record. Changing your vote after a roll call is closed is not allowed in the House.

Rep. Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg) Yes/Yes

Rep. Donald Berthiaume (R-Spencer) No/No

Rep. Dan Donahue (D-Worcester) Yes/Yes

Rep. Peter Durant (R-Spencer) No/No

Rep. Carolyn Dykema (D-Holliston) Yes/Yes

Rep. Kimberly Ferguson (R-Holden) Yes/Yes

Rep. Paul Frost (R-Auburn) Yes/Yes

Rep. Danielle Gregoire (D-Marlboro) Yes/Yes

Rep. Sheila Harrington (R-Groton) DNV/DNV

Rep. Stephan Hay (D-Fitchburg) Yes/Yes

Rep. Natalie Higgins (D-Leominster) Yes/Yes

Rep. Kate Hogan (D-Stow) Yes/Yes

Rep. Hannah Kane (R-Shrewsbury) Yes/Yes

Rep. Mary Keefe (D-Worcester) Yes/Yes

Rep. David LeBoeuf (D-Worcester) Yes/Yes

Rep. John Mahoney (D-Worcester) Yes/Yes

Rep. Joseph McKenna (R-Webster) No/No

Rep. David Muradian Jr. (R-Grafton) Yes/Yes

Rep. Brian Murray (D-Milford) Yes/Yes

Rep. Harold Naughton Jr. (D-Clinton) Yes/Yes

Rep. James O'Day (D-West Boylston) Yes/Yes

Rep. Todd Smola (R-Warren) Yes/Yes

Rep. Michael Soter (R-Bellingham) No/No

Rep. Susannah Whipps (I-Athol) No/Yes

Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik (D-Gardner) Yes/Yes

RULING OF THE CHAIR ON CONVERSION THERAPY AMENDMENTS (H 150)

House 123-33, supported the ruling of the chair that prohibited amendments to exempt talk therapy from the ban and to extend the restrictions to unlicensed practitioners, onto the House floor for debate and a vote.

The ruling is very technical, but the simple reason the amendments were not allowed was because the Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities had postponed a hearing on a conversion therapy bill (H 110) filed by Rep. Shawn Dooley (R-Norfolk).

Rep. Jennifer Benson Yes

Rep. Donald Berthiaume No

Rep. Dan Donahue Yes

Rep. Peter Durant No

Rep. Carolyn Dykema Yes

Rep. Kimberly Ferguson No

Rep. Paul Frost No

Rep. Danielle Gregoire Yes

Rep. Sheila Harrington DNV

Rep. Stephan Hay Yes

Rep. Natalie Higgins Yes

Rep. Kate Hogan Yes

Rep. Hannah Kane No

Rep. Mary Keefe Yes

Rep. David LeBoeuf Yes

Rep. John Mahoney Yes

Rep. Joseph McKenna No

Rep. David Muradian No

Rep. Brian Murray Yes

Rep. Harold Naughton Yes

Rep. James O'Day Yes

Rep. Todd Smola No

Rep. Michael Soter No

Rep. Susannah Whipps Yes

Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik Yes

CAP ON WELFARE BENEFITS FOR KIDS (H 3594)

House 155-1, approved and sent to the Senate a bill that repeals the current law that denies an additional $100 in welfare benefits to children conceived while – or soon after – the family began receiving welfare benefits or, if they had received family welfare benefits in the past. The law was adopted in 1995 as part of a welfare reform package that was aimed at discouraging families already receiving public support from having more children.

Rep. Jennifer Benson Yes

Rep. Donald Berthiaume Yes

Rep. Dan Donahue Yes

Rep. Peter Durant Yes

Rep. Carolyn Dykema Yes

Rep. Kimberly Ferguson Yes

Rep. Paul Frost Yes

Rep. Danielle Gregoire Yes

Rep. Sheila Harrington DNV

Rep. Stephan Hay Yes

Rep. Natalie Higgins Yes

Rep. Kate Hogan Yes

Rep. Hannah Kane Yes

Rep. Mary Keefe Yes

Rep. David LeBoeuf Yes

Rep. John Mahoney Yes

Rep. Joseph McKenna Yes

Rep. David Muradian Yes

Rep. Brian Murray Yes

Rep. Harold Naughton Yes

Rep. James O'Day Yes

Rep. Todd Smola Yes

Rep. Michael Soter Yes

Rep. Susannah Whipps Yes

Rep. Jonathan Zlotnik Yes

ALSO ON BEACON HILL

REQUIRE REPORTING OF CHILD ABUSE (H 40) - The Committee on Children, Families and Persons with Disabilities will hold a hearing on March 26 at 10 a.m. in Room A2 at the Statehouse on a bill adding to the current list of mandated reporters required to report suspected child abuse or neglect.

The bill would add public or private school employees in Massachusetts; persons who care for or work with a child in any public or private child care facility; all state employees; and all volunteers who regularly work with children in locally-based teams and organizations such as volunteer youth sports coaches, church volunteers, park and recreation, library, scouting, boys and girls clubs, YMCA and any other person in a local youth organization who has contact with children. The current list of mandated reporters includes doctors and medical personnel, teachers and educational personnel, police officers, firefighters and many human service professionals.

ONE MORE TIME … Many bills that were defeated or died in committee last year have been refiled for consideration in the 2019-2020 session. Here are some of them:

UNSOLICITED CREDIT CARDS AND CHECKS - Prohibits a consumer from being liable for any debt incurred by unauthorized use by someone other than the recipient, of unsolicited credit cards, checks and vouchers sent by banks. These items, sent to consumers by banks and other financial institutions, can be used instantly but are actually loans which must be repaid.

WINDOW GUARDS – Requires landlords to install window guards in all units of their buildings that have a window higher than six feet off the ground and in which a child under ten years of age lives. The measure also prohibits landlords from discriminating against potential renters who have children under ten and fines them from $250 to $500.

Bob Katzen welcomes feedback at bob@beaconhillrollcall.com.

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